Movies

85-year-old Ian McKellen sounds willing to play Gandalf again, but “they better be quick”

BBG News

As a gamer who grew up with the magic of Middle-earth engraved deep into my heart, I must say that the news about the upcoming Lord of the Rings projects has me thoroughly excited! The prospect of Andy Serkis directing and reprising his role as Gollum in “The Hunt for Gollum” is tantalizing.

Right now, everywhere you turn, there seems to be a resurgence of “The Lord of the Rings” phenomenon. From the Amazon Prime Video series “The Rings of Power” to an upcoming animated film titled “The War of the Rohirrim”, it’s clear that this beloved fantasy world is very much alive and well. For many, the Peter Jackson films from the early 2000s are the defining adaptations, and there’s a reawakening for those classics as well. Andy Serkis, who brought Gollum to life in that trilogy, will not only direct but also star in a new movie called “The Hunt for Gollum”. If you want a hint about the storyline, just look at the title!

During the first book “The Fellowship of the Ring” in the Lord of the Rings series, much of the story unfolds elsewhere. Given that Andy Serkis is expected to return as Gollum, fans find themselves speculating: will Viggo Mortensen make another appearance as Aragorn, or Ian McKellen reappear as Gandalf?

Both actors have expressed their opinions. “I’ve recently learned that there will likely be more movies and Gandalf might be included, and they are hoping I’ll portray him,” McKellen said to Big Issue. “When? I’m not sure. What the script is about? It hasn’t been written yet. So they need to hurry!” (Informal)

Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen are both willing to return, but will they?

As a seasoned gamer nearing my 85th year, I can certainly understand why Sir Ian McKellen has valid concerns about speed in his craft. Despite still being actively involved, a recent mishap during a production of “The Player Kings” left me with a broken wrist and a chipped vertebrae after a fall onstage. This performance was a compact rendition of Shakespeare’s plays, “Henry IV: Part 1” and “Part 2”. The incident has left me feeling physically drained, so I’m focusing on recovery exercises. Emotionally, it’s a different story; we all stumble in life, but at my age, sometimes the fall can be harder to bounce back from.

Ian McKellen continues his active work without any intention of retiring, but eventually, the decision might be taken out of his hands. On the other hand, Viggo Mortensen expressed interest in revisiting the franchise as Aragorn back in July. He stated, “I don’t know the story yet, I haven’t heard about it. Perhaps I will at some point. I like that character, learned a lot from playing him, and really enjoyed it.”

I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise.

Using advanced de-aging techniques, it might be feasible to portray both characters as they appeared in Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy for The Hunt for Gollum. But, the question remains whether this is the right decision, despite the technology being available. Should new actors be introduced when creating future Lord of the Rings films instead of relying on those who starred in the movies two decades ago? I hold a deep affection for Jackson’s original trilogy, yet I am eager to explore fresh directions for this series.

As of now, there hasn’t been a announced release date for “The Hunt for Gollum”. So, we’re in the dark about their specific plans. Keep tuned and we’ll discover more together.

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2024-09-03 18:50

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